Survey Highlights Dynamic Employer Response to Rising Obesity Drug Costs

A recent survey from WTW found 38% of employer-sponsored health plans provide coverage for anti-obesity medications, while another 22% are planning on or considering covering those drugs in 2024 or 2025. Meanwhile, about two-thirds of employers that are members of WTW’s Rx Collaborative cover anti-obesity drugs, according to Cody Midlam, a director in the company’s Pharmacy Community group.

Midlam tells AIS Health, a division of MMIT, that “we’re definitely seeing the trend is leaning towards adding coverage” of the medications, which are expected to be costly for plans in the coming years. Morgan Stanley, for instance, projected in a September report that the global market for weight management medications could reach $77 billion in 2030, up from just $2.4 billion last year.

© 2024 MMIT
Tim Casey

Tim Casey

Tim has been a reporter and editor for newspapers, websites and magazines for more than 20 years, including 10 years covering health care business topics. He has a deep knowledge of the managed care industry and pharmacy benefit management. He also has experience covering medical conferences and clinical and legislative health care issues. In 2014, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing selected Tim as one of 15 journalists to participate in a national symposium on the Affordable Care Act. Tim has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.

Related Posts

ceo
August 25

Large Employers Worry Over Worsening Worker Mental Health, Drug Costs

READ MORE
pills-in-hand
January 12

PBMs, Payers, Employers Anticipate Growing Weight Loss Medication Cost Trends

READ MORE
tubes
January 12

FDA Approved Four New Gene Therapies, Other Novel Agents in 2022

READ MORE

GAIN THERAPEUTIC AREA-SPECIFIC INTEL TO DRIVE ACCESS FOR YOUR BRAND

Sign up for publications to get unmatched business intelligence delivered to your inbox.

subscribe today